Normal service resumed !!

Finally after weeks of patchy internet connection we took the decision to change providers and my goodness what a difference!!! We should have done this ages ago. It is not until you have no internet that you realise just how much we depend on this method of communication. 

Yesterday I started the day with an amble around Blueberry and the area below Hanging Houghton.  It was a lovely Autumn morning with mist hanging over the fields in the valley.  At the highest point of Blueberry I came across 2 Northern Wheatears and a  Common Redstart which is always a good sign and suggests that birds are on the move.  As I arrived at the area known as "shrike hedge" it was very busy with birds and a significant increase on the previous day. There was a large flock of passerines including Linnets, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits.  A  very helpful Sparrowhawk flew through and caused a  moment of panic and it was at this point I heard the very distinctive popcorn sound of a Corn Bunting which then perched up very nicely in the hedge.  There was also 2 Whinchat,  Northern Wheatear and a Common Redstart in the same area.  Interestingly when I visited this area again late afternoon the only birds from the morning were the 2 Whinchat,  everything else had disappeared.                      Harrington Airfield was extremely quiet with only 2 Common Redstarts and a Northern Wheatear. 

Today there were 4 Whinchat at shrike hedge first thing this morning but very little else and both Blueberry and Lamport Hall area were also extremely quiet.  However when I visited shrike hedge late this afternoon it was again alive with birds. There was a very large flock of 80+ Meadow Pipits alone, plus Skylarks,  Chaffinches,  Linnets and Reed Buntings but I couldn't find anything of interest.                                                                           On the nectar strip below Hanging Houghton there were 3 Clouded Yellow Butterflies flitting about and showing well.  A couple of them are really bright individuals. 

A few birds of interest around in the county.  At Naseby Reservoir there is a German ringed Caspian Gull, Ruff, Green and Common Sandpiper.  Pitsford Reservoir has Black Tailed Godwits, Greenshanks, Ringed Plovers and Garganey.  Yesterday there was a Wood Sandpiper at Titchmarsh and Marsh Harrier at Summer Leys. 

Regards Eleanor 

Dunlin courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Curlew Sandpiper courtesy
of Robin Gossage.